Fontaine Fifth Wheel has introduced the Fontaine Ultra LT fifth wheel, which the company said is the lightest-weight fifth wheel slider system available. The compact Ultra LT is as light as an aluminum fifth wheel, with the additional strength, durability and cost-effectiveness provided by its steel construction. The Fontaine Ultra LT is part of the company’s new Ultra family of fifth wheels.
Fontaine said it designed the Ultra LT fifth wheel to meet the needs of fleets looking for weight reductions to offset heavy 2010 emission system components and to improve fuel economy. The Ultra LT offers weight savings of up to 100 lbs. or more over other fifth wheel systems, making cost per pound very attractive to fleet operators.
“Over the last year, fleets that previously had little interest in lightweight fifth wheels have been coming to us looking for a way to take some weight out of their vehicles,” says Terry Mennen, vice president of sales and marketing for Fontaine. “The benefit to a fleet of choosing the lightweight Ultra LT varies based on the type of fleet operation and can range from $2 per pound for truckload carriers all the way up to $12 per pound for bulk carriers.”
The Ultra LT is offered as a complete system that includes the top plate and one of a variety of mounting configurations, including inboard and outboard slide assemblies and a stationary mount. Both the inboard and outboard slide assemblies are lighter weight and more compact than standard slide assemblies. The Ultra LT system is for use in on-highway applications only, including highway tanker operations, the company noted.
Like all Fontaine fifth wheels, the Ultra LT features a patented lock design that eliminates the possibility of false trailer couplings to prevent dangerous high hitching. A patent is also pending on the fifth wheel’s secondary lock. Air actuation with in-cab air release (operable only when parking brake is engaged) is available, the company said.
The Ultra LT fifth wheel offers a vertical load of 50,000 lbs. and a drawbar pull of 150,000 lbs. The top plate is formed steel.
